Renting RV for travel to contest?

[Dennis Toth]

Anyone rent an RV to travel to contests? I'm thinking about doing some out of state contests and travel next year and was wondering how to get started to do this? Would like to have a unit that is big enough for myself and wife to travel comfortably. Do you need training to drive one of these? Were do you get the training? How do you find where to rent them? What things should you watch out for in any rental contracts?

Best,   DennisT

[Gary Dowler]

https://www.rvusa.com/

It might be expensive, but saves hotel costs.

Gary

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Two comments.

1.  First the first trip, I'd advise going just a few miles, like five.

2.  There is a big difference between staying at an RV park vs "boondocking."

Good luck!

[Will Hinton]

Back in the early '90's my wife and I attended a lot of contests in our 28 foot RV.  For me, that was actually the best of times for that.  As long as the RV has a generator, which ours did, you are completely independent.  We stayed at the flying field on Saturday night, were up and "getting a needle" pretty much before anyone else, other than the other RVers who showed up.
I highly recommennd it.  As for learning to drive the beast, nothing to it, just climb in and remember it doesn't stop like a car, doesn't turn like your car, and takes up more of the road.  Go for it. 

[Mike Scholtes]

We have a 23 foot Roadtrek camper built on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis and body. This one is all-electric, no propane, and has a solar panel on the roof to keep batteries charged. Ours has dual rear wheels for better stability. We have driven it all up and down the West Coast to golf events for the last 5 years. It is completely self-contained and able to "boondock" but we try to stay at an RV park with showers and electric and water hookups. It like living on a sailboat; every square inch is used for something, and it is tight, but it works. Stand-up shower, toilet, electric range, fridge, hot water heater, air conditioning. No generator needed, but we do have a small Honda generator just in case. I have taken it to model contests a few times and it is nice to have a "home" parked right by the circles. The Sprinter has a 3.0 liter turbodiesel V6 that is surprisingly powerful. Cruises easily at 70-75 and climbs hills at speed of traffic. Gets about 20 mpg on the freeway. Ours has 4 seats but there is a version that only has driver and passenger seat and is 2 feet shorter. Driving it is absolutely no problem, just like driving a car. I have also driven larger motor homes that are like a bus, and this is so much better. Don't know what they rent for in your area but there are firms that hook up van owners with prospective renters, so you can get a privately-owned one rather than a dedicated rental vehicle. I highly recommend anything built on a Sprinter.

[Joe Ed Pederson]

I've thought about getting a travel trailer since we have a 3/4 ton Dodge Diesel pickup.   Haven't done it yet, but to me the most appealing aspect of an RV or trailer is that you can cook your own food.  It doesn't take long for me to get really tired of fast food places or even sit-down restaurants.

Our son gave us a book about getting into RV/Camper trailers and as Peter said, they too recommended going on a short trial run before taking a trip that matters. 

Joe Ed Pederson

[FLOYD CARTER]

A less expensive option would be to rent a van.  My Toyota van, with 3 rows of seats has lots of room when the back 2 rows of seats are removed.  Of course, my van lacks a stove and shower, but you can't have everything.

[Norm Furutani]

Been an RV owner and FF competitor for many years. My first thought was to wholeheartedly endorse having an RV for traveling to contests. It’s great to step out of your rig and fly early in the morning then go in for breakfast or have dinner and put in a few flights as the sun goes down. BUT in FF we’re usually out in the sticks and camping on the field is a given. Thinking of our recent CL contest in the Los Angeles area, there is NO camping allowed within 20 miles of the field. With the recent glut of homeless and the craziness that goes with, I’m not sure I would want to camp in a metro location. If this is not the case, and and there are others camping, then I recommend staying on the field. You’re sleeping on your bed, you have the option of cooking or eating out, hanging out with your friends around the campfire. Just staring out at an open field, watching the sun go down is much better than four walls listening to the TV in the next room.

We do several international FF contests and visitors like renting rigs. El Monte and Cruise America seem to be popular and depending on the dates, they are able to get discounted off season rates.

We’ve enjoyed our camper, although my wife has to remind me that we could go camping without carrying boxes of model airplanes and a chase bike. True, but there are airshows and air museums, too!
NormF

[Sean McEntee]

During this years trip to Oshkosh, I entertained the idea of renting a camper for future trips.  Dorm room rates at UWO are ever-increasing, and most military installation MWRs have pretty nice rigs and the rental rates are decent.  Even with the free campground access that the Kidventure volunteer service offers, the camper and the estimated additional cost of gas was not significantly cheaper than staying in the dorms.  Later in the week, severe thunderstorms, coupled with hail and tornado warnings, forced EAA to evacuate the campgrounds and pack people into the museum and every hanger and hard building on the site.  Jan, my roommate and I just shrugged our shoulders and headed back to the dorms, where we slept safe and sound.  Moral of the story:  weather impact is also a consideration.

[John Rist]

Just remember RV stands for Ruined Vacation.  There are great when the work but a BIG headache when they break.   If the air craps in an hotel room you change rooms.  In an RV-------- you get the picture.   If you own your RV and keep it in good shape it is usually OK.  Also you know how to set it up and make every thing work.

A friend of ours rented a RV van.  wound up with Bed Bugs.  R----V----

In years gone by I had a 30' 5th wheeler.  It was fun but I spent a lot more on it than motel room would have cost. (Not to mention 6-8 MPG).   If you do it to save money forget it.

I also had a Coleman pop up camper. Bought a junky older one for $500.  Sold the stove, hot water heater, refrigerator, and the rest of the guts for $200. Spent the $200 on new wheels, tires, and wheel bearings. I gutted it into a one room toy hauler. Made it very light and easy to tow with a 4 cylinder SUV.   It had a working roof air and a porta potty. Was great at the contest sight.  Clean bath room and a cool place to work on the airplanes.  I had a 3KVA generator that ran everything.  Quite often I was able to leave it at the contest sight and go to an Motel.  If not I was always allowed to park it at the motel lot.  When I got too old to use it any more sold it for $500. Still have the 3KVA generator.  Use it for backup power in my home after a storm.

Bottom line is one size does not fit all.  RVs do not save you money but it dose provides a life style that some love, and others hate.